A poll shows that most evangelicals support comprehensive immigration reform, prompting some to assure legislators they have the needed support to enact legislation promoting border security and a path to citizenship.

By Jeff Brumley

A recent LifeWay poll showing strong support for immigration reform among evangelicals came as no surprise to Baptists involved in the reform movement, but they said it seems to remain a mystery to U.S. legislators.

A wide spectrum of Christian leaders have been meeting and speaking out for months, primarily through the Evangelical Immigration Table. Its participants range from charismatics and Presbyterians to conservative and moderate Baptists.

“We hear from faith leaders this can be done, but Congress is still afraid there will be too much pushback” on comprehensive immigration reform, said Stephen Reeves, associate coordinator of partnerships and advocacy for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

“It’s the church’s job to educate [legislators] about their support,” Reeves said.

He and other Baptist leaders say there is plenty of evidence testifying to that support.

Survey shows unity

That includes the LifeWay poll released earlier this month. Among its findings is that 86 percent of American evangelicals want border security and 61 percent favor a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. And 68 percent want both.

Some of the results revealed biblical values behind those opinions: 72 percent say the unity of immigrant families should be protected and 82 percent said God-given dignity should be respected.

More than two-thirds of evangelicals said they want Congress to act this year, and half of those polled said they would vote for a candidate who supports immigration reform that includes border security and a path to citizenship, LifeWay researchers found.

‘The system is broken’

If nothing else, federal, state and other legislators should bear in mind that roughly 60,000 Hispanic teens, those born in the United States, turn 18 — voting age — every month, said Gus Reyes, director of the Christian Life Commission, the ethics arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Politicians who support policies that focus only on border protection “are going to have to change their rhetoric,” he said.

“These emerging voters are sensitive to how they and their families have been treated,” Reyes said.

But change isn’t coming only at the ballot box but also in people’s hearts, he said.

For years, Hispanics, documented or not, have been meeting Americans, many of whom are believers who have shared the gospel with the immigrants.

Many of those immigrants have entered churches where they made decisions for Christ and were baptized. Many have been become Sunday school teachers, deacons and even ministers, Reyes said.

Then at some point many of them approach their pastors to admit they are in the U.S. illegally. “’I have become right with God and I want to become right with the U.S. government — how do I do that?’” he said.

“And for most of these folks, there is no way,” he said. “The system is broken.”

Seeing that situation has led many evangelicals to confront biblical passages like Leviticus 19:34, Micah 6:8, Luke 4:18 and Hebrews 13:2 — all of which command believers to treat foreigners in their midst as family.

“I don’t see how you get around that,” Reyes said.

Others can’t see around it either and have begun talking about these issues in their churches, Reyes said. “Evangelicals have signed on and pastors are starting to preach about justice and on how the immigrant is to be treated.”

‘Something needs to be done’

Progressives, too, are sensing a broad-based coalition between themselves and conservative Christians on immigration reform.

And the unifying factor is Christ, said LeDayne McLeese Polaski, executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, also known as BPFNA Bautistas por la Paz.

“All of these voices have excited me,” Polaski said. “You’re hard-pressed to find an issue more biblically based than hospitality to the immigrant.”

It’s also a good sign for immigration reform, she added.

“Every example of massive social change has involved creative and interesting coalitions of people who are coming at issues from different perspectives,” Polaski said.

Reeves said the fact that coalition members may have different motivations for supporting immigration reform doesn’t matter as long as they agree on the main point.

“There is uniform agreement that the system is broken and something needs to be done,” Reeves said.

]]>

A poll shows that most evangelicals support comprehensive immigration reform, prompting some to assure legislators they have the needed support to enact legislation promoting border security and a path to citizenship.

By Jeff Brumley

A recent LifeWay poll showing strong support for immigration reform among evangelicals came as no surprise to Baptists involved in the reform movement, but they said it seems to remain a mystery to U.S. legislators.

A wide spectrum of Christian leaders have been meeting and speaking out for months, primarily through the Evangelical Immigration Table. Its participants range from charismatics and Presbyterians to conservative and moderate Baptists.

“We hear from faith leaders this can be done, but Congress is still afraid there will be too much pushback” on comprehensive immigration reform, said Stephen Reeves, associate coordinator of partnerships and advocacy for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

“It’s the church’s job to educate [legislators] about their support,” Reeves said.

He and other Baptist leaders say there is plenty of evidence testifying to that support.

Survey shows unity

That includes the LifeWay poll released earlier this month. Among its findings is that 86 percent of American evangelicals want border security and 61 percent favor a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. And 68 percent want both.

Some of the results revealed biblical values behind those opinions: 72 percent say the unity of immigrant families should be protected and 82 percent said God-given dignity should be respected.

More than two-thirds of evangelicals said they want Congress to act this year, and half of those polled said they would vote for a candidate who supports immigration reform that includes border security and a path to citizenship, LifeWay researchers found.

‘The system is broken’

If nothing else, federal, state and other legislators should bear in mind that roughly 60,000 Hispanic teens, those born in the United States, turn 18 — voting age — every month, said Gus Reyes, director of the Christian Life Commission, the ethics arm of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Politicians who support policies that focus only on border protection “are going to have to change their rhetoric,” he said.

“These emerging voters are sensitive to how they and their families have been treated,” Reyes said.

But change isn’t coming only at the ballot box but also in people’s hearts, he said.

For years, Hispanics, documented or not, have been meeting Americans, many of whom are believers who have shared the gospel with the immigrants.

Many of those immigrants have entered churches where they made decisions for Christ and were baptized. Many have been become Sunday school teachers, deacons and even ministers, Reyes said.

Then at some point many of them approach their pastors to admit they are in the U.S. illegally. “’I have become right with God and I want to become right with the U.S. government — how do I do that?’” he said.

“And for most of these folks, there is no way,” he said. “The system is broken.”

Seeing that situation has led many evangelicals to confront biblical passages like Leviticus 19:34, Micah 6:8, Luke 4:18 and Hebrews 13:2 — all of which command believers to treat foreigners in their midst as family.

“I don’t see how you get around that,” Reyes said.

Others can’t see around it either and have begun talking about these issues in their churches, Reyes said. “Evangelicals have signed on and pastors are starting to preach about justice and on how the immigrant is to be treated.”

‘Something needs to be done’

Progressives, too, are sensing a broad-based coalition between themselves and conservative Christians on immigration reform.

And the unifying factor is Christ, said LeDayne McLeese Polaski, executive director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, also known as BPFNA Bautistas por la Paz.

“All of these voices have excited me,” Polaski said. “You’re hard-pressed to find an issue more biblically based than hospitality to the immigrant.”

It’s also a good sign for immigration reform, she added.

“Every example of massive social change has involved creative and interesting coalitions of people who are coming at issues from different perspectives,” Polaski said.

Reeves said the fact that coalition members may have different motivations for supporting immigration reform doesn’t matter as long as they agree on the main point.

“There is uniform agreement that the system is broken and something needs to be done,” Reeves said.

Reasons for seeking new spiritual homes include an aversion to congregational conflict and the trappings of denominationalism.

By Vicki Brown

You’ve been a member of the same church for a few years. While you may not know everyone in the congregation well, you are acquainted with most folks in your Sunday school class.

One Sunday morning you realize a friend isn’t there. The more you think about it, the more you realize she hasn’t attended the class in a couple of weeks. What has happened? Is she ill?

Possibly. But equally plausible: She’s looking for something different — she’s church shopping.

Several studies show that sometime in their life, at least 40 percent of religiously oriented people will switch church denominations or faith traditions, says Bill Leonard, James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Church History and Baptist Studies at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

Why would members choose to leave their church for another? Why would they switch denominations — from Baptist to Methodist, for example? Why would they completely switch faith traditions — letting go of Christian tenets to follow Buddhist teachings, perhaps?

The reasons are as varied as the people who opt to shop.

Like the ‘old’ church

Comfort and familiarity are the primary reasons people change affiliation, particularly when they move to a different geographical location, Leonard believes.

“These days, chances are that a growing number of people who change churches are more apt to go look for a church that feels like the one in which they were comfortable before they look at the name on the church sign,” he said.

The local church can become a strong source of personal — not denominational — identity. People look for a church that mentors, nurtures or cares for them in the same or similar way they had experienced with their former congregation, Leonard said.

Finding a place that recreates that intensity can be difficult. If the Baptist church the individual visits can’t meet that level, the individual looks elsewhere.

“‘I just couldn’t find any church like the church where we’ve been.’ I hear this consistently,” he said.

The felt need usually trumps religious ties. When religious individuals relocate, denominational and faith tags do not mean as much as they might have in the past, he said.

Conflict

Denominational identity means much less to people than it did in the past, Robert “Bob” Perry, a longtime church health consultant and author, agreed.

He sees conflict in the local congregation or within the denomination or religious tradition as a key reason many people change affiliations. The “negative baggage” conflict and other issues often create can drive people to look elsewhere.

“Most people are wanting church to be a place of refuge and peace,” he said.

“When a denomination is chronically engaged in conflict and rancor, many people just get fed up with it,” he added.

“That is even more the case at the local church. When church members get drawn into a church conflict, they often just want to escape and get a fresh start.”

To lessen the impact of conflict or to avoid the controversy surrounding the denomination, local churches frequently drop references to the denomination in their name and advertising, or disaffiliate altogether.

But not always. Denominational affiliation still draws some members.

Larry Harvey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hastings, Neb., sees visitors drop into services because they are Baptist and have seen the name in newspaper advertising and on the church’s marquee.

Congeniality and programming have been primary factors in membership ebb and flow at the Hastings church, Harvey said.

A small congregation in a town of about 7,000 people, First Baptist does not always offer the programs people feel they want or need, usually involving children or other family needs. Those folks often will go elsewhere.

They might return, sometimes years later, when perceived needs or desires change.

Picking what they like

While maintaining membership in one congregation, many people will attend another, or even several others, during a week or month to take advantage of ministries those churches offer.

Leonard sees this as a growing trend that appeared to start with the growth of megachurches and a move to non-denominationalism. A growing number of large churches no longer refer to those who come or support the ministry as “members.” Instead, they use the words “adherents” or “attendees.”

People participate in a megachurch for programs but keep their membership in another church and take advantage of both, Leonard said.

Perry also sees “the phenomenon of people maintaining multiple church connections to pick what they like from two or more congregations,” even on the same day.

“They may prefer the Sunday school class they have been in at one church, then go to another for the style of worship they prefer,” he said.

As a result, even megachurches find member retention difficult. “Most megachurches struggle with the retention issue as much or more than smaller churches,” Perry said.

A 2008 Barna Group study seemed to verify the trend, noting that “millions of people are now involved in multiple faith communities,” including online options. The study tagged as “blenders” those who both attend a conventional church and “experiment with new forms of faith community.”

‘Meaningful’ membership

Googling the phrase “church member retention” brings up a host of websites and blogs that offer specific practical ways to keep members interested in staying with their congregations. Lots of books have been penned on the subject as well. Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, believes commitment is the issue.

In his Aug. 19, 2013, blog post, Rainer explained the average attendance drops as people skip a service to go elsewhere, even just once a month.

He called on church leaders to make membership “meaningful.”

“[C]hurch membership is becoming less and less meaningful in many churches. As membership becomes less meaningful, commitment naturally wanes,” he said.

Rainer offered suggestions to promote attendance, including getting people involved in ministry.

“People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves,” he wrote.

]]>

Reasons for seeking new spiritual homes include an aversion to congregational conflict and the trappings of denominationalism.

By Vicki Brown

You’ve been a member of the same church for a few years. While you may not know everyone in the congregation well, you are acquainted with most folks in your Sunday school class.

One Sunday morning you realize a friend isn’t there. The more you think about it, the more you realize she hasn’t attended the class in a couple of weeks. What has happened? Is she ill?

Possibly. But equally plausible: She’s looking for something different — she’s church shopping.

Several studies show that sometime in their life, at least 40 percent of religiously oriented people will switch church denominations or faith traditions, says Bill Leonard, James and Marilyn Dunn Professor of Church History and Baptist Studies at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.

Why would members choose to leave their church for another? Why would they switch denominations — from Baptist to Methodist, for example? Why would they completely switch faith traditions — letting go of Christian tenets to follow Buddhist teachings, perhaps?

The reasons are as varied as the people who opt to shop.

Like the ‘old’ church

Comfort and familiarity are the primary reasons people change affiliation, particularly when they move to a different geographical location, Leonard believes.

“These days, chances are that a growing number of people who change churches are more apt to go look for a church that feels like the one in which they were comfortable before they look at the name on the church sign,” he said.

The local church can become a strong source of personal — not denominational — identity. People look for a church that mentors, nurtures or cares for them in the same or similar way they had experienced with their former congregation, Leonard said.

Finding a place that recreates that intensity can be difficult. If the Baptist church the individual visits can’t meet that level, the individual looks elsewhere.

“‘I just couldn’t find any church like the church where we’ve been.’ I hear this consistently,” he said.

The felt need usually trumps religious ties. When religious individuals relocate, denominational and faith tags do not mean as much as they might have in the past, he said.

Conflict

Denominational identity means much less to people than it did in the past, Robert “Bob” Perry, a longtime church health consultant and author, agreed.

He sees conflict in the local congregation or within the denomination or religious tradition as a key reason many people change affiliations. The “negative baggage” conflict and other issues often create can drive people to look elsewhere.

“Most people are wanting church to be a place of refuge and peace,” he said.

“When a denomination is chronically engaged in conflict and rancor, many people just get fed up with it,” he added.

“That is even more the case at the local church. When church members get drawn into a church conflict, they often just want to escape and get a fresh start.”

To lessen the impact of conflict or to avoid the controversy surrounding the denomination, local churches frequently drop references to the denomination in their name and advertising, or disaffiliate altogether.

But not always. Denominational affiliation still draws some members.

Larry Harvey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hastings, Neb., sees visitors drop into services because they are Baptist and have seen the name in newspaper advertising and on the church’s marquee.

Congeniality and programming have been primary factors in membership ebb and flow at the Hastings church, Harvey said.

A small congregation in a town of about 7,000 people, First Baptist does not always offer the programs people feel they want or need, usually involving children or other family needs. Those folks often will go elsewhere.

They might return, sometimes years later, when perceived needs or desires change.

Picking what they like

While maintaining membership in one congregation, many people will attend another, or even several others, during a week or month to take advantage of ministries those churches offer.

Leonard sees this as a growing trend that appeared to start with the growth of megachurches and a move to non-denominationalism. A growing number of large churches no longer refer to those who come or support the ministry as “members.” Instead, they use the words “adherents” or “attendees.”

People participate in a megachurch for programs but keep their membership in another church and take advantage of both, Leonard said.

Perry also sees “the phenomenon of people maintaining multiple church connections to pick what they like from two or more congregations,” even on the same day.

“They may prefer the Sunday school class they have been in at one church, then go to another for the style of worship they prefer,” he said.

As a result, even megachurches find member retention difficult. “Most megachurches struggle with the retention issue as much or more than smaller churches,” Perry said.

A 2008 Barna Group study seemed to verify the trend, noting that “millions of people are now involved in multiple faith communities,” including online options. The study tagged as “blenders” those who both attend a conventional church and “experiment with new forms of faith community.”

‘Meaningful’ membership

Googling the phrase “church member retention” brings up a host of websites and blogs that offer specific practical ways to keep members interested in staying with their congregations. Lots of books have been penned on the subject as well. Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, believes commitment is the issue.

In his Aug. 19, 2013, blog post, Rainer explained the average attendance drops as people skip a service to go elsewhere, even just once a month.

He called on church leaders to make membership “meaningful.”

“[C]hurch membership is becoming less and less meaningful in many churches. As membership becomes less meaningful, commitment naturally wanes,” he said.

Rainer offered suggestions to promote attendance, including getting people involved in ministry.

“People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves,” he wrote.

A new LifeWay poll indicates most Americans pray with themselves in mind. Baptist ministers say that's no surprise, given that the church does a poor job teaching the purpose of prayer.

By Jeff Brumley

A new poll has revealed something religious leaders have known for years: Americans are pretty self-centered when they pray.

And even when not praying for themselves, they are praying for family, friends and favorite teams — which, pastors say, often amounts to the same thing.

None of the Baptist ministers contacted by ABPnews/Herald were shocked to hear the results from the Oct. 1 LifeWay survey.

“I don’t think it really surprising,” says Brandon Hudson, pastor of Crosscreek Baptist Church in Pelham, Ala. Largely it results from the failure of churches to properly form Christians in the practice of prayer, he says.

“I don’t think we have actually taught people how to pray. We have not, in my experience, talked about the mechanics, varieties of and purpose of prayer — aside from the idea that you ought to do it.”

Survey says …

What they do know how to do is put their needs, and those of people closest to them, first, the LifeWay survey shows.

When asked what they typically pray for, 82 percent of respondents said for “family and friends,” followed by “my own problems and difficulties” at 72 percent.

Good things that have happened (54 percent) was next, followed by “my own sin” (42 percent). Victims of natural disasters (38 percent), God’s greatness (37 percent) and their own “future prosperity” (36 percent) were other categories.

The survey also asked those who pray if they have ever prayed for specific kinds of people or events.

Some — 41 percent — said they have prayed for people who mistreat them, while 37 percent said they had prayed for their enemies.

Twenty-one percent said they have prayed for winning lottery tickets and 13 percent for their favorite teams to win games.

‘Our default position’

Such attitudes are all too familiar to ministers who work in discipling new and lifelong believers.

“As an educator of a congregation this reminds me of the work we have to do in that whole area of the theological basis of prayer,” said Kenneth Meyers, faith formation specialist for the Alliance of Baptists.

Christian teaching, experience and Scripture demonstrate that written or spontaneous prayers focused on God and others are ideal for strengthening faith.

Petitions focused on one’s self are best if the believer is “praying for one’s own connection with God,” said Meyers, who will retire in November as minister of faith formation at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston Salem, N.C.

But Meyers added that there are no bad prayers.

“When we get stressed out, we find ourselves reverting back and praying for a football team or a parking spot — that’s kind of our default position,” he said.

‘Opening ourselves to change’

In Alabama, Hudson said congregations can take their own small steps away from the kind of prayer illuminated in the LifeWay poll and toward more ancient and biblical forms.

Prayer-centered teaching series are frequently offered at Crosscreek, including an upcoming series about contemplative prayer.

A recent Wednesday small-group study at the church offered a series of steps to achieve a balanced approach to prayer:

• Start with thanksgiving. Focusing on gifts in life not of their own making can generate gratitude in those praying, Hudson said.• Move next to adoration, where love for God and who God is are expressed.• Then comes confession. Hudson said this is not so much about admitting specific sins as it is “a confession that God is God and we are not God.”• Next is intercession. “From those steps, intercession becomes very authentic.”• Close the prayer with commitment to the way of Christ.

There are many approaches to prayer that can achieve similar results, Hudson added.

“Prayer is such a huge topic, but it’s also one you can’t reduce to a formula,” he said.

But there is a facet of prayer that is lost on many Christians.

“It’s not just about trying to change God’s mind, it’s about opening ourselves up to change.”

]]>

A new LifeWay poll indicates most Americans pray with themselves in mind. Baptist ministers say that's no surprise, given that the church does a poor job teaching the purpose of prayer.

By Jeff Brumley

A new poll has revealed something religious leaders have known for years: Americans are pretty self-centered when they pray.

And even when not praying for themselves, they are praying for family, friends and favorite teams — which, pastors say, often amounts to the same thing.

None of the Baptist ministers contacted by ABPnews/Herald were shocked to hear the results from the Oct. 1 LifeWay survey.

“I don’t think it really surprising,” says Brandon Hudson, pastor of Crosscreek Baptist Church in Pelham, Ala. Largely it results from the failure of churches to properly form Christians in the practice of prayer, he says.

“I don’t think we have actually taught people how to pray. We have not, in my experience, talked about the mechanics, varieties of and purpose of prayer — aside from the idea that you ought to do it.”

Survey says …

What they do know how to do is put their needs, and those of people closest to them, first, the LifeWay survey shows.

When asked what they typically pray for, 82 percent of respondents said for “family and friends,” followed by “my own problems and difficulties” at 72 percent.

Good things that have happened (54 percent) was next, followed by “my own sin” (42 percent). Victims of natural disasters (38 percent), God’s greatness (37 percent) and their own “future prosperity” (36 percent) were other categories.

The survey also asked those who pray if they have ever prayed for specific kinds of people or events.

Some — 41 percent — said they have prayed for people who mistreat them, while 37 percent said they had prayed for their enemies.

Twenty-one percent said they have prayed for winning lottery tickets and 13 percent for their favorite teams to win games.

‘Our default position’

Such attitudes are all too familiar to ministers who work in discipling new and lifelong believers.

“As an educator of a congregation this reminds me of the work we have to do in that whole area of the theological basis of prayer,” said Kenneth Meyers, faith formation specialist for the Alliance of Baptists.

Christian teaching, experience and Scripture demonstrate that written or spontaneous prayers focused on God and others are ideal for strengthening faith.

Petitions focused on one’s self are best if the believer is “praying for one’s own connection with God,” said Meyers, who will retire in November as minister of faith formation at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston Salem, N.C.

But Meyers added that there are no bad prayers.

“When we get stressed out, we find ourselves reverting back and praying for a football team or a parking spot — that’s kind of our default position,” he said.

‘Opening ourselves to change’

In Alabama, Hudson said congregations can take their own small steps away from the kind of prayer illuminated in the LifeWay poll and toward more ancient and biblical forms.

Prayer-centered teaching series are frequently offered at Crosscreek, including an upcoming series about contemplative prayer.

A recent Wednesday small-group study at the church offered a series of steps to achieve a balanced approach to prayer:

• Start with thanksgiving. Focusing on gifts in life not of their own making can generate gratitude in those praying, Hudson said.• Move next to adoration, where love for God and who God is are expressed.• Then comes confession. Hudson said this is not so much about admitting specific sins as it is “a confession that God is God and we are not God.”• Next is intercession. “From those steps, intercession becomes very authentic.”• Close the prayer with commitment to the way of Christ.

There are many approaches to prayer that can achieve similar results, Hudson added.

“Prayer is such a huge topic, but it’s also one you can’t reduce to a formula,” he said.

But there is a facet of prayer that is lost on many Christians.

“It’s not just about trying to change God’s mind, it’s about opening ourselves up to change.”

]]>Jeff BrumleyTheologyThu, 09 Oct 2014 15:59:10 -0400Papers filed in Glorieta lawsuithttps://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/9088-papers-filed-in-glorieta-lawsuit
https://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/9088-papers-filed-in-glorieta-lawsuitA couple that owns a home on property leased from Glorieta Conference Center has asked a judge to set a trial date in a case the Southern Baptist Convention claims is an internal church matter outside the court’s domain.

By Bob Allen

An Arkansas couple suing Southern Baptist Convention officials in federal court claim that secular courts have jurisdiction over the internal workings of a church when it involves property disputes or misuse of its articles of incorporation.

In a legal document filed Dec. 5, Kirk and Susie Tompkins, members of First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., dispute claims by lawyers for LifeWay Christian Resources and the SBC Executive Committee that a federal magistrate cannot consider legality of LifeWay’s recent sale of Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico under the free-exercise and establishment clauses in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The couple lost their lease to the lot which contained a vacation home they purchased on Glorieta property in 1993 after it expired when trustees of the SBC publishing house voted to sell the 2,100-acre mountain retreat center near Santa Fe in June.

They challenged the deal in a lawsuit filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque claiming LifeWay lacks authority to dispose of the property without approval at two SBC annual meetings.

An amended complaint filed Sept. 18 seeks $12.4 million for themselves and about 65 other homeowners they claim were fraudulently led to believe they had perpetually renewing leases put in place as a safeguard to maintain the Christian character of the community.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Hayes Scott issued a temporary stay in the proceedings Nov. 21 pending the outcome of objections by Southern Baptist officials that the court lacks jurisdiction on multiple grounds.

“The Court lacks jurisdiction to overrule a religious organization’s interpretation of its own ecclesiastical rules and regulations,” lawyers representing LifeWay and the SBC Executive Committee said in a court document filed Dec. 5.

They claim the Southern Baptist Convention interpreted its constitution and bylaws to mean that the right to convey Glorieta belonged solely to LifeWay, and the lawsuit is asking the court to overrule that interpretation. The defendants “assert their First Amendment right that prohibits civil courts from interfering with their own interpretation of ecclesiastical rules and their own governance,” according to the document.

Lawyers for LifeWay argue in a separate filing that the lease agreement contained specific language — “This Lease may, at Glorieta’s sole option, be nonrenewable and permanently lapse upon expiration or earlier termination hereof” — which supports their claim. The homeowners further acknowledge “that neither Glorieta nor any agent of Glorieta has made any promise; or commitment whatsoever regarding any continuation or extension of this Lease or issuance of any new Lease subsequent to the expiration or earlier termination hereof.”

The Tompkinses say their dispute involves a “non-religious doctrine” that falls under the court’s jurisdiction.

“A corporation is a creature of the state,” they argue. “It is presumed to be incorporated for the benefit of the public. It receives certain special privileges and franchises and holds them subject to the laws of the state and the limitation of its charter. Its powers are limited by law. It can make no contract not authorized by its charter. Its rights to act as a corporation are only preserved to it so long as it obeys the laws of its creation.”

They say the deed on file at the Santa Fe County courthouse lists the Executive Committee, not LifeWay, as Glorieta’s owner and that a LifeWay vice president committed fraud when he claimed to have legal authority to transfer the property.

As to the lease, they claim an “implied-in-fact contract,” a legal term for a meeting of the minds not in writing but affirmed by non-verbal conduct demonstrating a tacit understanding.

They claim “irreparable harm is ongoing and occurring” to Glorieta homeowners “generally all whom have believed in the rule of law and were protected by the fundamental aspects that ‘if’ two consecutive meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention approved the sale of Glorieta Conference Center they would at the very least be ‘fairly and justly’ compensated with buyouts of at least fair market values by implied contracts and meetings of the minds of all Glorieta Home Buyers and Leaseholders existing for over 50 years.”

“Southern Baptist families, including widows, pastors, retired pastors, missionaries, state convention leaders and many churches have been greatly damaged by this immoral liquidation and fraudulent transfer by special warranty deed,” the Tompkinses contend.

They accuse LifeWay and the Executive Committee of taking “without proper due process and equal protections the hard earned retirement funds of citizens and churches of several states, stolen by lies, mismanagement and greed,” and ask the judge to begin pretrial discovery and disclosure and set a date for a trial.

]]>A couple that owns a home on property leased from Glorieta Conference Center has asked a judge to set a trial date in a case the Southern Baptist Convention claims is an internal church matter outside the court’s domain.

By Bob Allen

An Arkansas couple suing Southern Baptist Convention officials in federal court claim that secular courts have jurisdiction over the internal workings of a church when it involves property disputes or misuse of its articles of incorporation.

In a legal document filed Dec. 5, Kirk and Susie Tompkins, members of First Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., dispute claims by lawyers for LifeWay Christian Resources and the SBC Executive Committee that a federal magistrate cannot consider legality of LifeWay’s recent sale of Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico under the free-exercise and establishment clauses in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The couple lost their lease to the lot which contained a vacation home they purchased on Glorieta property in 1993 after it expired when trustees of the SBC publishing house voted to sell the 2,100-acre mountain retreat center near Santa Fe in June.

They challenged the deal in a lawsuit filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque claiming LifeWay lacks authority to dispose of the property without approval at two SBC annual meetings.

An amended complaint filed Sept. 18 seeks $12.4 million for themselves and about 65 other homeowners they claim were fraudulently led to believe they had perpetually renewing leases put in place as a safeguard to maintain the Christian character of the community.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Hayes Scott issued a temporary stay in the proceedings Nov. 21 pending the outcome of objections by Southern Baptist officials that the court lacks jurisdiction on multiple grounds.

“The Court lacks jurisdiction to overrule a religious organization’s interpretation of its own ecclesiastical rules and regulations,” lawyers representing LifeWay and the SBC Executive Committee said in a court document filed Dec. 5.

They claim the Southern Baptist Convention interpreted its constitution and bylaws to mean that the right to convey Glorieta belonged solely to LifeWay, and the lawsuit is asking the court to overrule that interpretation. The defendants “assert their First Amendment right that prohibits civil courts from interfering with their own interpretation of ecclesiastical rules and their own governance,” according to the document.

Lawyers for LifeWay argue in a separate filing that the lease agreement contained specific language — “This Lease may, at Glorieta’s sole option, be nonrenewable and permanently lapse upon expiration or earlier termination hereof” — which supports their claim. The homeowners further acknowledge “that neither Glorieta nor any agent of Glorieta has made any promise; or commitment whatsoever regarding any continuation or extension of this Lease or issuance of any new Lease subsequent to the expiration or earlier termination hereof.”

The Tompkinses say their dispute involves a “non-religious doctrine” that falls under the court’s jurisdiction.

“A corporation is a creature of the state,” they argue. “It is presumed to be incorporated for the benefit of the public. It receives certain special privileges and franchises and holds them subject to the laws of the state and the limitation of its charter. Its powers are limited by law. It can make no contract not authorized by its charter. Its rights to act as a corporation are only preserved to it so long as it obeys the laws of its creation.”

They say the deed on file at the Santa Fe County courthouse lists the Executive Committee, not LifeWay, as Glorieta’s owner and that a LifeWay vice president committed fraud when he claimed to have legal authority to transfer the property.

As to the lease, they claim an “implied-in-fact contract,” a legal term for a meeting of the minds not in writing but affirmed by non-verbal conduct demonstrating a tacit understanding.

They claim “irreparable harm is ongoing and occurring” to Glorieta homeowners “generally all whom have believed in the rule of law and were protected by the fundamental aspects that ‘if’ two consecutive meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention approved the sale of Glorieta Conference Center they would at the very least be ‘fairly and justly’ compensated with buyouts of at least fair market values by implied contracts and meetings of the minds of all Glorieta Home Buyers and Leaseholders existing for over 50 years.”

“Southern Baptist families, including widows, pastors, retired pastors, missionaries, state convention leaders and many churches have been greatly damaged by this immoral liquidation and fraudulent transfer by special warranty deed,” the Tompkinses contend.

They accuse LifeWay and the Executive Committee of taking “without proper due process and equal protections the hard earned retirement funds of citizens and churches of several states, stolen by lies, mismanagement and greed,” and ask the judge to begin pretrial discovery and disclosure and set a date for a trial.

]]>Bob AllenOrganizationsThu, 12 Dec 2013 13:24:41 -0500Hearing held in Glorieta lawsuithttps://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/9049-hearing-held-in-glorieta-lawsuit
https://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/9049-hearing-held-in-glorieta-lawsuitResidents of Glorieta Conference Center are contesting the sale of leased property on which their homes are built.

By Bob Allen

A federal judge in New Mexico has removed 113 individuals from a lawsuit against two Southern Baptist Convention agencies challenging the recent sale of Glorieta Conference Center named in subpoenas that convention lawyers say were improperly served.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Hayes Scott also agreed Nov. 21 to postpone the case pending outcome of a claim by convention lawyers that the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque lacks standing to hear the dispute because it concerns internal matters of a religious body protected by the religion clauses of the First Amendment.

Scott’s orders came during a hearing of a lawsuit filed by homeowners who claim LifeWay Christian Resources acted improperly in selling leased property on which their homes are located out from under them without offering them fair market value.

Kirk and Susie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., allege that LifeWay trustees lacked authority to sell the property without approval at two separate SBC annual meetings. They seek damages totaling $12.4 million for themselves and others affected by the sale of Glorieta to a new corporation called Glorieta 2.0.

The homeowners claim that LifeWay and the Southern Baptist Convention did not follow their own internal processes and bylaws in deciding to sell the property that convention leaders say has been losing money for years.

They claim LifeWay’s officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties and committed corporate waste by selling 2,400 acres of mountain property near Santa Fe, N.M., for $1. They also say they were treated unfairly when LifeWay canceled leases that homeowners believed were recurring.

Lawyers representing LifeWay and the SBC Executive Committee say the couple has no right to challenge the agency’s internal business decisions, because they are not duly elected trustees. They also cite a Supreme Court ruling last year barring the government from interfering “with an internal church decision that affects the faith and mission of the church itself.”

“In addition, civil courts are incompetent to pronounce on matters involving the proper interpretation of religious doctrine, such as whether LifeWay’s decision to sell the Glorieta Conference Center was in accord with LifeWay’s religious beliefs,” attorneys argued in a court document filed Oct. 2.

The lawsuit originally named more than 100 individual trustees and employees of both LifeWay and the Executive Committee. The number dropped to 15 after LifeWay and Executive Committee lawyers complained that subpoenas were served in bulk to convention offices rather than to each defendant’s place of residence.

]]>Residents of Glorieta Conference Center are contesting the sale of leased property on which their homes are built.

By Bob Allen

A federal judge in New Mexico has removed 113 individuals from a lawsuit against two Southern Baptist Convention agencies challenging the recent sale of Glorieta Conference Center named in subpoenas that convention lawyers say were improperly served.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Hayes Scott also agreed Nov. 21 to postpone the case pending outcome of a claim by convention lawyers that the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque lacks standing to hear the dispute because it concerns internal matters of a religious body protected by the religion clauses of the First Amendment.

Scott’s orders came during a hearing of a lawsuit filed by homeowners who claim LifeWay Christian Resources acted improperly in selling leased property on which their homes are located out from under them without offering them fair market value.

Kirk and Susie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., allege that LifeWay trustees lacked authority to sell the property without approval at two separate SBC annual meetings. They seek damages totaling $12.4 million for themselves and others affected by the sale of Glorieta to a new corporation called Glorieta 2.0.

The homeowners claim that LifeWay and the Southern Baptist Convention did not follow their own internal processes and bylaws in deciding to sell the property that convention leaders say has been losing money for years.

They claim LifeWay’s officers and directors breached their fiduciary duties and committed corporate waste by selling 2,400 acres of mountain property near Santa Fe, N.M., for $1. They also say they were treated unfairly when LifeWay canceled leases that homeowners believed were recurring.

Lawyers representing LifeWay and the SBC Executive Committee say the couple has no right to challenge the agency’s internal business decisions, because they are not duly elected trustees. They also cite a Supreme Court ruling last year barring the government from interfering “with an internal church decision that affects the faith and mission of the church itself.”

“In addition, civil courts are incompetent to pronounce on matters involving the proper interpretation of religious doctrine, such as whether LifeWay’s decision to sell the Glorieta Conference Center was in accord with LifeWay’s religious beliefs,” attorneys argued in a court document filed Oct. 2.

The lawsuit originally named more than 100 individual trustees and employees of both LifeWay and the Executive Committee. The number dropped to 15 after LifeWay and Executive Committee lawyers complained that subpoenas were served in bulk to convention offices rather than to each defendant’s place of residence.

]]>Bob AllenOrganizationsTue, 26 Nov 2013 15:19:23 -0500LifeWay apologizes to Asian-Americanshttps://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8996-lifeway-apologizes-to-asian-americans
https://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8996-lifeway-apologizes-to-asian-americansTen years after defending an Asian-themed vacation Bible school curriculum that some found offense, LifeWay Christian Resources has issued a public apology.

By Bob Allen

The head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing arm apologized Nov. 6 for a 10-year-old Asian-themed vacation Bible school curriculum that critics said promoted racial stereotypes.

"Ten years ago LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School material used racial stereotypes that offended many in the Asian-American community," LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom Rainer said in a video presentation to about 1,000 multiethnic church leaders at the Mosaix conference in Long Beach, Calif.

“I wasn’t part of LifeWay then, but I am now, and I’ve recently learned that decade-old offense is still a point of hurt for some," Rainer said in a video apology played at the conference. "As president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, I want to apologize. I am sincerely sorry stereotypes were used in our materials, and I apologize for the pain they caused."

LifeWay said the 2004 VBS theme of “Far Out Rickshaw Rally — Racing Towards the Son" was intended to introduce kids to Jesus using Asian culture as a theme, but instead “became a lesson in cross-cultural miscommunication.” Critics including the Baptist Convention of New England said focusing on the rickshaw was insensitive and a poor representation of Asian culture.

The VBS package came in a tin shaped like a Chinese food take-out box. The chorus to the theme song, "Wax on, wax off, get your rickshaw ready,” alluded to a scene in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid.

Teaching tips included building props like oversized chopsticks out of wood, borrowing Geisha or Samurai costumes from a community theatre or renting blow-up Sumo wrestler costumes for children to wrestle each other in.

At the time LifeWay officials defended the material, saying that for every complaint the company received numerous compliments, and that those objecting were either overly sensitive or had a hidden agenda.

The matter resurfaced recently, when more than 80 Asian-American Christians signed an open letter chastising evangelicals for “repeated and offensive racial stereotyping” of Asians, citing examples including Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren’s recent use of a photo depicting a Red Guard during China’s Cultural Revolution on Facebook.

Asian-American leaders hearing the apology welcomed it as a step toward healing.

"I am so thankful for LifeWay, in their words this morning, in a public setting, to say we were wrong," said Soong-Chan Rah, a professor of church growth and evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago who created a "Reconsidering Rickshaw Rally" protest website in 2003. "I am so thankful because now the healing can begin and the reconciliation we have not been able to have can begin."

]]>Ten years after defending an Asian-themed vacation Bible school curriculum that some found offense, LifeWay Christian Resources has issued a public apology.

By Bob Allen

The head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing arm apologized Nov. 6 for a 10-year-old Asian-themed vacation Bible school curriculum that critics said promoted racial stereotypes.

"Ten years ago LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School material used racial stereotypes that offended many in the Asian-American community," LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom Rainer said in a video presentation to about 1,000 multiethnic church leaders at the Mosaix conference in Long Beach, Calif.

“I wasn’t part of LifeWay then, but I am now, and I’ve recently learned that decade-old offense is still a point of hurt for some," Rainer said in a video apology played at the conference. "As president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, I want to apologize. I am sincerely sorry stereotypes were used in our materials, and I apologize for the pain they caused."

LifeWay said the 2004 VBS theme of “Far Out Rickshaw Rally — Racing Towards the Son" was intended to introduce kids to Jesus using Asian culture as a theme, but instead “became a lesson in cross-cultural miscommunication.” Critics including the Baptist Convention of New England said focusing on the rickshaw was insensitive and a poor representation of Asian culture.

The VBS package came in a tin shaped like a Chinese food take-out box. The chorus to the theme song, "Wax on, wax off, get your rickshaw ready,” alluded to a scene in the 1984 movie The Karate Kid.

Teaching tips included building props like oversized chopsticks out of wood, borrowing Geisha or Samurai costumes from a community theatre or renting blow-up Sumo wrestler costumes for children to wrestle each other in.

At the time LifeWay officials defended the material, saying that for every complaint the company received numerous compliments, and that those objecting were either overly sensitive or had a hidden agenda.

The matter resurfaced recently, when more than 80 Asian-American Christians signed an open letter chastising evangelicals for “repeated and offensive racial stereotyping” of Asians, citing examples including Purpose Driven Life author Rick Warren’s recent use of a photo depicting a Red Guard during China’s Cultural Revolution on Facebook.

Asian-American leaders hearing the apology welcomed it as a step toward healing.

"I am so thankful for LifeWay, in their words this morning, in a public setting, to say we were wrong," said Soong-Chan Rah, a professor of church growth and evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago who created a "Reconsidering Rickshaw Rally" protest website in 2003. "I am so thankful because now the healing can begin and the reconciliation we have not been able to have can begin."

Kirk and Suzie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., claim the Southern Baptist Convention entity based in Nashville, Tenn., lacked legal authority to divest the Glorieta Conference Center near Santa Fe, N.M., to a new nonprofit corporation called Glorieta 2.0 for a $1 price tag.

They seek $400,000 in damages for loss of their retreat residence and $12 million to be divided among the 65 or so homeowners who built or purchased private residences on Glorieta property beginning in the 1950s, secured by what they believed to be a recurring lease.

Those leases became void when the new owners offered options of a one-time buyout for a maximum payment of $100,000, a new 12-year lease that ends with the building going to Glorieta 2.0 for no compensation or donating the building outright to the new owners.

Further, they allege that as recently as 2011 LifeWay approached individuals about purchasing previously owned cottages, “attempting financial gain with impunity using a lease known to be voidable.”

The complaint cites a 2009 Baptist Press article quoting an official denying rumors that Glorieta was closing as saying: “We’ve been here for more than 50 years, and we believe the changes we are making will position Glorieta for the next 50 years.”

Supporting documents describe other leaseholders who claim they were caught by surprise this year when LifeWay unloaded the 2,400-acre retreat center opened in 1952, and which had reported losses 24 of the last 25 years.

John Yarbrough, a retired Southern Baptist minister and one-time home missionary, said more than 10 years ago he responded to an appeal by LifeWay to invest in a “new” Glorieta by purchasing a $150,000 home in need of repair. If Glorieta were ever sold, he claims he was told, “I would receive a fair market value for my retirement investment.”

Yarbrough said he felt “suckered” in 2011, when LifeWay CFO Jerry Rhyne responded to a question about whether any LifeWay employees own homes at Glorieta by saying, “I would never have signed that lease.”

One couple, ages 76 and 72, said they had intended for the home they purchased eight years ago for $155,000 in cash to pass to their children after their deaths.

Another admitted to failure to subject the lease to close scrutiny by an attorney when they invested their life savings to buy their home in 2007, because they joined “other, wiser Christians … in believing that Glorieta would continue its 60-year history of recurring lease agreements.”

Both of them are now out of work, as their jobs were dissolved in a Glorieta downsizing and their duties turned over to summer interns and volunteers.

The Tompkinses filed a second amended complaint Sept. 18 asking a U.S. district judge in New Mexico to block transfer of the property, claiming the Southern Baptist Convention constitution and bylaws require a vote at two consecutive annual meetings for the liquidation of a convention entity. They claim LifeWay officials fraudulently claimed authority to dispose of property that wasn’t theirs to sell.

Augie Boto, executive vice president and general counsel for the SBC Executive Committee and an attorney of record in the lawsuit, said the Glorieta property belongs to LifeWay, and that the two-year vote would apply only if LifeWay wanted to liquidate all or most of its assets.

Marty King, director of corporate communications for LifeWay, said it would be inappropriate to comment on pending litigation “except to say that we expect a favorable outcome and to reiterate that LifeWay had proper deeds to all of Glorieta, and Southern Baptist Convention approval was not required for the transaction.”

The Tompkinses claim their retreat home is worth at least three times the buyout offer. They say leaseholders are expected to “roll over” and “accept pennies on the dollar” for their homes in order to “allow a non-SBC entity [to] take possession of property having a realty value in excess of $40 million to convert and do with as they please without SBC approval.”

They claim the real reason that SBC officials don’t want the matter to come up at the annual meeting is because they fear “a minority/majority report presented at convention … calling for an investigation of LifeWay’s fiduciary failures, illegal activities and misappropriations” related to Glorieta.

Yarbrough compared LifeWay’s treatment of Glorieta leaseholders to Enron, a Houston energy company that went bankrupt in 2001 after an accounting scandal that caused shareholders to lose $11 billion.

Ken Camp of the Baptist Standard contributed to this report.

]]>Kirk and Susie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., allege LifeWay lacks authority to dispose of the conference center without the approval of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Kirk and Suzie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., claim the Southern Baptist Convention entity based in Nashville, Tenn., lacked legal authority to divest the Glorieta Conference Center near Santa Fe, N.M., to a new nonprofit corporation called Glorieta 2.0 for a $1 price tag.

They seek $400,000 in damages for loss of their retreat residence and $12 million to be divided among the 65 or so homeowners who built or purchased private residences on Glorieta property beginning in the 1950s, secured by what they believed to be a recurring lease.

Those leases became void when the new owners offered options of a one-time buyout for a maximum payment of $100,000, a new 12-year lease that ends with the building going to Glorieta 2.0 for no compensation or donating the building outright to the new owners.

Further, they allege that as recently as 2011 LifeWay approached individuals about purchasing previously owned cottages, “attempting financial gain with impunity using a lease known to be voidable.”

The complaint cites a 2009 Baptist Press article quoting an official denying rumors that Glorieta was closing as saying: “We’ve been here for more than 50 years, and we believe the changes we are making will position Glorieta for the next 50 years.”

Supporting documents describe other leaseholders who claim they were caught by surprise this year when LifeWay unloaded the 2,400-acre retreat center opened in 1952, and which had reported losses 24 of the last 25 years.

John Yarbrough, a retired Southern Baptist minister and one-time home missionary, said more than 10 years ago he responded to an appeal by LifeWay to invest in a “new” Glorieta by purchasing a $150,000 home in need of repair. If Glorieta were ever sold, he claims he was told, “I would receive a fair market value for my retirement investment.”

Yarbrough said he felt “suckered” in 2011, when LifeWay CFO Jerry Rhyne responded to a question about whether any LifeWay employees own homes at Glorieta by saying, “I would never have signed that lease.”

One couple, ages 76 and 72, said they had intended for the home they purchased eight years ago for $155,000 in cash to pass to their children after their deaths.

Another admitted to failure to subject the lease to close scrutiny by an attorney when they invested their life savings to buy their home in 2007, because they joined “other, wiser Christians … in believing that Glorieta would continue its 60-year history of recurring lease agreements.”

Both of them are now out of work, as their jobs were dissolved in a Glorieta downsizing and their duties turned over to summer interns and volunteers.

The Tompkinses filed a second amended complaint Sept. 18 asking a U.S. district judge in New Mexico to block transfer of the property, claiming the Southern Baptist Convention constitution and bylaws require a vote at two consecutive annual meetings for the liquidation of a convention entity. They claim LifeWay officials fraudulently claimed authority to dispose of property that wasn’t theirs to sell.

Augie Boto, executive vice president and general counsel for the SBC Executive Committee and an attorney of record in the lawsuit, said the Glorieta property belongs to LifeWay, and that the two-year vote would apply only if LifeWay wanted to liquidate all or most of its assets.

Marty King, director of corporate communications for LifeWay, said it would be inappropriate to comment on pending litigation “except to say that we expect a favorable outcome and to reiterate that LifeWay had proper deeds to all of Glorieta, and Southern Baptist Convention approval was not required for the transaction.”

The Tompkinses claim their retreat home is worth at least three times the buyout offer. They say leaseholders are expected to “roll over” and “accept pennies on the dollar” for their homes in order to “allow a non-SBC entity [to] take possession of property having a realty value in excess of $40 million to convert and do with as they please without SBC approval.”

They claim the real reason that SBC officials don’t want the matter to come up at the annual meeting is because they fear “a minority/majority report presented at convention … calling for an investigation of LifeWay’s fiduciary failures, illegal activities and misappropriations” related to Glorieta.

Yarbrough compared LifeWay’s treatment of Glorieta leaseholders to Enron, a Houston energy company that went bankrupt in 2001 after an accounting scandal that caused shareholders to lose $11 billion.

An Arkansas couple who own a house on land leased from Glorieta Conference Center has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeking a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent the transfer of property from LifeWay Christian Resources to Glorieta 2.0.

Kirk and Susie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., allege LifeWay lacks authority to dispose of the conference center without the approval of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The legal complaint — filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, N.M. — asserts the original 1950 warranty deed grants the conference center property to the SBC Executive Committee, and no other transfer of deed is on record. The suit names as defendants a long list of officers and employees of the SBC Executive Committee, LifeWay and Glorieta 2.0.

Glorieta Baptist Assembly opened as Southern Baptists’ second national conference center in 1952 and has been operated since then by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, which changed its name to LifeWay in 1998.

The conference center reported financial difficulty for more than two decades, and LifeWay agreed to sell the property for $1 to Glorieta 2.0 in a deal scheduled to close this month.

The suit alleges LifeWay acted in violation of the SBC charter when its trustees voted to transfer property to Glorieta 2.0, which the court documents characterize as “a non-Baptist, non-related group of businessmen operating for profit children’s camps not legally affiliated with SBC or LifeWay.” Individuals involved in Glorieta 2.0 also operate Camp Eagle in Rocksprings, Texas.

As of Sept. 5, LifeWay had not received notice of the suit from the court, said Marty King, director of corporate communications.

“However, we are confident Southern Baptist Convention approval is not required for the transaction,” King said. “LifeWay’s bylaws do require approval for such action by our SBC-elected board of trustees. LifeWay’s trustees approved disposition of the Glorieta property two years ago and sale to Glorieta 2.0 for a camping ministry later this year.

“We will review the court document when we receive it and respond to the court.”

About 65 individuals and organizations own houses built on property leased from Glorieta.

An Arkansas couple who own a house on land leased from Glorieta Conference Center has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeking a temporary restraining order or injunction to prevent the transfer of property from LifeWay Christian Resources to Glorieta 2.0.

Kirk and Susie Tompkins of Little Rock, Ark., allege LifeWay lacks authority to dispose of the conference center without the approval of messengers at two consecutive annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The legal complaint — filed Sept. 4 in the U.S. District Court in Albuquerque, N.M. — asserts the original 1950 warranty deed grants the conference center property to the SBC Executive Committee, and no other transfer of deed is on record. The suit names as defendants a long list of officers and employees of the SBC Executive Committee, LifeWay and Glorieta 2.0.

Glorieta Baptist Assembly opened as Southern Baptists’ second national conference center in 1952 and has been operated since then by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, which changed its name to LifeWay in 1998.

The conference center reported financial difficulty for more than two decades, and LifeWay agreed to sell the property for $1 to Glorieta 2.0 in a deal scheduled to close this month.

The suit alleges LifeWay acted in violation of the SBC charter when its trustees voted to transfer property to Glorieta 2.0, which the court documents characterize as “a non-Baptist, non-related group of businessmen operating for profit children’s camps not legally affiliated with SBC or LifeWay.” Individuals involved in Glorieta 2.0 also operate Camp Eagle in Rocksprings, Texas.

As of Sept. 5, LifeWay had not received notice of the suit from the court, said Marty King, director of corporate communications.

“However, we are confident Southern Baptist Convention approval is not required for the transaction,” King said. “LifeWay’s bylaws do require approval for such action by our SBC-elected board of trustees. LifeWay’s trustees approved disposition of the Glorieta property two years ago and sale to Glorieta 2.0 for a camping ministry later this year.

“We will review the court document when we receive it and respond to the court.”

About 65 individuals and organizations own houses built on property leased from Glorieta.

The new owners of Glorieta Conference Center have increased the maximum amount to buy out leaseholders on the property from $40,000 to $100,000.

Glorieta 2.0, the Christian camping group taking over the cash-strapped New Mexico facility from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, offered concessions after meeting with people who own homes built on land leased from the previous owner.

The new owners originally offered a one-time buyout of $40,000 regardless of the structure’s size. The new deal offers $30 per square foot for finished and heated living space up to a maximum of $100,000. Leaseholders choosing the option have until Dec. 1 to vacate.

Permanent residents – those who do not own another home and live on the property at least 300 days a year and missionaries who designate the property as their permanent U.S. address – can continue to lease their property as long as they want and are physically able to remain there. The original proposal was that all leases would expire after 12 years, and any facilities not removed would then become property of Glorieta 2.0.

Charles Goodyear of Arlington, Texas, a leaseholder at Glorieta, characterized the provision for full-time residents as “a major improvement” but said the increased payout amount is well below comparable markets in Santa Fe, 25 miles away, where homes run $250 per square foot, and Eldorado, eight miles away, where the average cost per square foot is $206.

A July 12 letter from owner to leaseholders described the expanded offer as “a stretch for us – and as far as we can go and still be able to have the resources needed to revitalize Glorieta as we all desire.”

Glorieta 2.0 purchased the 2,100-acre property for $1 in June. The conference center opened in 1952 had lost money 24 of the last 25 years before LifeWay decided two years ago to dispose of it.

The Baptist Convention of New Mexico wanted the property, but after study decided it couldn’t afford deferred maintenance costs estimated between $10 million and $20 million.

Olivet University, a Christian college in California led by former Southern Baptist missionary and seminary professor Bill Wagner, also made an offer, but it was rejected after an independent review of doctrinal compatibility.

]]>Leaseholders of property at Glorieta Conference Center received a letter outlining new options from Glorieta 2.0, the Christian camping group buying the center from LifeWay Christian Resources.

By Ken Camp

The new owners of Glorieta Conference Center have increased the maximum amount to buy out leaseholders on the property from $40,000 to $100,000.

Glorieta 2.0, the Christian camping group taking over the cash-strapped New Mexico facility from LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, offered concessions after meeting with people who own homes built on land leased from the previous owner.

The new owners originally offered a one-time buyout of $40,000 regardless of the structure’s size. The new deal offers $30 per square foot for finished and heated living space up to a maximum of $100,000. Leaseholders choosing the option have until Dec. 1 to vacate.

Permanent residents – those who do not own another home and live on the property at least 300 days a year and missionaries who designate the property as their permanent U.S. address – can continue to lease their property as long as they want and are physically able to remain there. The original proposal was that all leases would expire after 12 years, and any facilities not removed would then become property of Glorieta 2.0.

Charles Goodyear of Arlington, Texas, a leaseholder at Glorieta, characterized the provision for full-time residents as “a major improvement” but said the increased payout amount is well below comparable markets in Santa Fe, 25 miles away, where homes run $250 per square foot, and Eldorado, eight miles away, where the average cost per square foot is $206.

A July 12 letter from owner to leaseholders described the expanded offer as “a stretch for us – and as far as we can go and still be able to have the resources needed to revitalize Glorieta as we all desire.”

Glorieta 2.0 purchased the 2,100-acre property for $1 in June. The conference center opened in 1952 had lost money 24 of the last 25 years before LifeWay decided two years ago to dispose of it.

The Baptist Convention of New Mexico wanted the property, but after study decided it couldn’t afford deferred maintenance costs estimated between $10 million and $20 million.

Olivet University, a Christian college in California led by former Southern Baptist missionary and seminary professor Bill Wagner, also made an offer, but it was rejected after an independent review of doctrinal compatibility.

]]>Ken CampOrganizationsThu, 25 Jul 2013 14:46:43 -0400Glorieta residents get lease optionshttps://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8649-glorieta-residents-get-lease-options
https://baptistnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/8649-glorieta-residents-get-lease-optionsBaptists who have built on property leased from Glorieta Conference Center face some big decisions in renegotiating with the property's new owners.

By Ken Camp

Some Baptists who lease property at Glorieta Conference Center recently received notice from the new owners -- Glorieta 2.0 -- they have until mid-August to make major decisions about houses built on that land.

In mid-June, LifeWay Christian Resources announced it found a buyer for its 2,100-acre property near Santa Fe -- a group of businessmen and camping professionals associated with Camp Eagle, a Christian camp in the Texas Hill Country near Rocksprings.

The certificate of incorporation filed with the New Mexico secretary of state lists three directors for Glorieta 2.0 -- David Weekley, a Houston homebuilder; Terry Looper, founding president and chief executive officer of Houston-based Texon; and Leonard Russo, Texon’s chief financial and administrative officer.

Leases ending

In a June 25 letter to leaseholders of Glorieta property, Glorieta 2.0 notes about 80 percent of existing leases end Sept. 30. People who lease property have until Aug. 15 to choose one of three options.

The first option offers a new 12-year lease that imposes new restrictions on the use of conference center facilities. At the end of 12 years, the individual has up to six months to remove his or her home, or it becomes the property of Glorieta 2.0.

The second option offers a one-time $40,000 buyout to people with homes on the conference center property, regardless of their appraised value. Leaseholders who accept that option have 90 days to vacate after the lease goes into effect in mid-August.

The third option invites leaseholders to donate their homes to Glorieta 2.0 as a charitable contribution.

'Inopportune time'

Charles Goodyear of Arlington, Texas, learned about the change at an inopportune time.

“I thought I was retiring yesterday,” he said, noting his employment ended June 30. “We were looking forward to enjoying retirement in our cabin at Glorieta.”

As LifeWay struggled financially in recent years, people who leased property at the conference center received reassurances, Goodyear said.

“All along, they told us they would take care of us. They said: ‘Trust us. We’re family,’” he insisted.

When the conference center changed owners, Goodyear anticipated a possible buyout, but not under the terms proposed.

“I expected to take a haircut, but not a $100,000 haircut,” he said.

Some residents at Glorieta find themselves in an even more vulnerable position, Goodyear insisted.

Retirees

“Some of them are retired missionaries and ministers. Glorieta is their home. There is no way they could buy a replacement home for $40,000,” he said.

Marty King, director of communications for LifeWay Christian Resources, offered a different perspective.

“Public characterizations of new lease options offered to Glorieta lessees are inaccurate and unfortunate,” he said. “Every lease at Glorieta is clear that lessees do not own -- and have never owned -- the land on which their structures were built. Most of the leases are now being renewed annually, and have been for several years.

“The new owners of Glorieta are offering lessees generous alternatives to expiration of their leases, including 12-year extensions or outright purchase. We’re confident the options far exceed expectations of current leases.”

Churches and organizations

In addition to individuals, several churches and organizations also lease property at Glorieta. The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board owns a lodge built on leased land at the conference center.

“We are evaluating our options and do not know yet how we will respond,” said Jill Larsen, BGCT treasurer and chief financial officer.

Representatives from LifeWay and Glorieta 2.0 will meet with people who lease property at Glorieta July 9. Larsen noted she plans to attend the meeting.

Glorieta Baptist Assembly opened in 1952 as a conference center operated by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. It grew to become one of the largest Christian camps in the nation, but it faced financial challenges the last two and a half decades.

June 25 letter

The June 25 letter to leaseholders states: “As you may or not be aware, the original concept at Glorieta was to lease property to individuals and organizations for a period of 25 years. This ensured that when a leaseholder paid to build improvements, the leaseholder would be able to use and enjoy those improvements for 25 years. After the 25-year lease ended, the leaseholder would be given six months to remove the improvements. If the improvements were not removed, they would become the property of Glorieta.”

The letter from the Glorieta 2.0 “donor group” to leaseholders also says, “Please know that the lessees being treated on terms that are fair to all involved was an important concern for LifeWay.”

Anthony Scott, executive director of Camp Eagle and Glorieta 2.0, was en route to Glorieta July 3 and planned to visit individually with several leaseholders prior to the July 9 meeting.

“We love Jesus, and we believe in a God of reconciliation and redemption,” he said. “I want to be available to talk with the people to ask: ‘What is your situation? What is it about your circumstances that may be unique? How can we help you?’”

Concerns

Some residents indicated they believed Glorieta’s new owners wanted leaseholders to leave the property so Glorieta 2.0 could move its employees into the homes on the grounds -- an assertion Scott refuted.

“We do not want or need 85 homes,” he said.

Some longtime leaseholders also have voiced concern about new restrictions included in the 12-year lease from Glorieta 2.0. It bars residents and their guests from conference center facilities during planned events unless they are registered for the event. It also prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles on Glorieta property and requires leaseholders to submit to criminal background checks and complete child-safety training.

Those restrictions simply reflect a desire to protect children and youth, Scott emphasized.

“Our primary concern is child safety,” he said.

]]>Baptists who have built on property leased from Glorieta Conference Center face some big decisions in renegotiating with the property's new owners.

By Ken Camp

Some Baptists who lease property at Glorieta Conference Center recently received notice from the new owners -- Glorieta 2.0 -- they have until mid-August to make major decisions about houses built on that land.

In mid-June, LifeWay Christian Resources announced it found a buyer for its 2,100-acre property near Santa Fe -- a group of businessmen and camping professionals associated with Camp Eagle, a Christian camp in the Texas Hill Country near Rocksprings.

The certificate of incorporation filed with the New Mexico secretary of state lists three directors for Glorieta 2.0 -- David Weekley, a Houston homebuilder; Terry Looper, founding president and chief executive officer of Houston-based Texon; and Leonard Russo, Texon’s chief financial and administrative officer.

Leases ending

In a June 25 letter to leaseholders of Glorieta property, Glorieta 2.0 notes about 80 percent of existing leases end Sept. 30. People who lease property have until Aug. 15 to choose one of three options.

The first option offers a new 12-year lease that imposes new restrictions on the use of conference center facilities. At the end of 12 years, the individual has up to six months to remove his or her home, or it becomes the property of Glorieta 2.0.

The second option offers a one-time $40,000 buyout to people with homes on the conference center property, regardless of their appraised value. Leaseholders who accept that option have 90 days to vacate after the lease goes into effect in mid-August.

The third option invites leaseholders to donate their homes to Glorieta 2.0 as a charitable contribution.

'Inopportune time'

Charles Goodyear of Arlington, Texas, learned about the change at an inopportune time.

“I thought I was retiring yesterday,” he said, noting his employment ended June 30. “We were looking forward to enjoying retirement in our cabin at Glorieta.”

As LifeWay struggled financially in recent years, people who leased property at the conference center received reassurances, Goodyear said.

“All along, they told us they would take care of us. They said: ‘Trust us. We’re family,’” he insisted.

When the conference center changed owners, Goodyear anticipated a possible buyout, but not under the terms proposed.

“I expected to take a haircut, but not a $100,000 haircut,” he said.

Some residents at Glorieta find themselves in an even more vulnerable position, Goodyear insisted.

Retirees

“Some of them are retired missionaries and ministers. Glorieta is their home. There is no way they could buy a replacement home for $40,000,” he said.

Marty King, director of communications for LifeWay Christian Resources, offered a different perspective.

“Public characterizations of new lease options offered to Glorieta lessees are inaccurate and unfortunate,” he said. “Every lease at Glorieta is clear that lessees do not own -- and have never owned -- the land on which their structures were built. Most of the leases are now being renewed annually, and have been for several years.

“The new owners of Glorieta are offering lessees generous alternatives to expiration of their leases, including 12-year extensions or outright purchase. We’re confident the options far exceed expectations of current leases.”

Churches and organizations

In addition to individuals, several churches and organizations also lease property at Glorieta. The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board owns a lodge built on leased land at the conference center.

“We are evaluating our options and do not know yet how we will respond,” said Jill Larsen, BGCT treasurer and chief financial officer.

Representatives from LifeWay and Glorieta 2.0 will meet with people who lease property at Glorieta July 9. Larsen noted she plans to attend the meeting.

Glorieta Baptist Assembly opened in 1952 as a conference center operated by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. It grew to become one of the largest Christian camps in the nation, but it faced financial challenges the last two and a half decades.

June 25 letter

The June 25 letter to leaseholders states: “As you may or not be aware, the original concept at Glorieta was to lease property to individuals and organizations for a period of 25 years. This ensured that when a leaseholder paid to build improvements, the leaseholder would be able to use and enjoy those improvements for 25 years. After the 25-year lease ended, the leaseholder would be given six months to remove the improvements. If the improvements were not removed, they would become the property of Glorieta.”

The letter from the Glorieta 2.0 “donor group” to leaseholders also says, “Please know that the lessees being treated on terms that are fair to all involved was an important concern for LifeWay.”

Anthony Scott, executive director of Camp Eagle and Glorieta 2.0, was en route to Glorieta July 3 and planned to visit individually with several leaseholders prior to the July 9 meeting.

“We love Jesus, and we believe in a God of reconciliation and redemption,” he said. “I want to be available to talk with the people to ask: ‘What is your situation? What is it about your circumstances that may be unique? How can we help you?’”

Concerns

Some residents indicated they believed Glorieta’s new owners wanted leaseholders to leave the property so Glorieta 2.0 could move its employees into the homes on the grounds -- an assertion Scott refuted.

“We do not want or need 85 homes,” he said.

Some longtime leaseholders also have voiced concern about new restrictions included in the 12-year lease from Glorieta 2.0. It bars residents and their guests from conference center facilities during planned events unless they are registered for the event. It also prohibits the use of all-terrain vehicles on Glorieta property and requires leaseholders to submit to criminal background checks and complete child-safety training.

Those restrictions simply reflect a desire to protect children and youth, Scott emphasized.

Founders, participants say the faith-based abstinence program helps youth who wish to remain "pure" in a sexualized society.

By Jeff Brumley

Ryan Rouse, 33, credits a little piece of paper kept in his Bible for helping him remain a virgin until his wedding day in 2002.

“There were definitely times when temptation would start to factor in – girls and dates,” the Florida Baptist and former multi-sport athlete recalled. “I would keep that Bible in my car – to me that pledge card was a huge symbol.”

That commitment card came courtesy of True Love Waits, the LifeWay Christian Resources abstinence program first unveiled in Nashville in February 1993. It has since been adopted by churches and ministries of numerous denominations across the nation and globe.

“Our hope was to impact a few Southern Baptist churches,” Hester told ABPnews. “It got a whole lot bigger than we ever hoped it would.”

Looking back, Ross said that’s likely because many teens yearned for an alternative to the sexualized culture then addressed mainly by the safe-sex movement.

Condom demonstrations focusing on disease and pregnancy prevention alienated those young people who wanted and needed more support in remaining abstinent, said Ross, now a professor of student ministry and religious education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“That left young people thinking everyone around them must be sexually involved,” he said. “That was tremendously discouraging because they were feeling ‘I’m the strange one. I am the misfit.’”

That was the message Ross said he and Hester were hearing as they worked together on a Christian sex-education curriculum for LifeWay. Discussions about that concern led them eventually to draft a plan for what became True Love Waits, with the first group of 53 pledges being signed at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.

The way people embraced and took ownership of the program showed their hunger to make a promise of purity to Christ, and for a fellowship of like-minded adults and teens to provide the support needed to make it work, Ross said.

“I think teenagers who have identified themselves with a world-wide movement do experience a positive encouragement from peers to keep the promise,” Ross said.

Critics and skeptics have suggested peer pressure accounts for much of the program’s success, and that it alienates young people who do have sex before marriage.

Hester said it’s true that some teens may have signed commitment cards to go along with youth groups. “If you talk to students long enough, you hear that their parents were looking, or ‘I was doing it because my buddy did it,’” Hester said.

But there are many thousands more who say even those pressures were God-sent, or that True Love Waits gave them the social cover they needed to say no when it really mattered, Hester said.

“And yes there are those who don’t live it out,” he said. For those, the program has gone out of its way to teach that slips are opportunities to seek repentance and move on. “We produced ‘When True Love Doesn’t Wait.”

Hester also acknowledged that organizers do not have a count of commitment cards signed or statistics regarding how many teens make it to their wedding day as virgins.

It’s impossible to count because churches and other groups don’t always report when they are using True Love Waits or how many people have signed the cards. There has been no polling or other research to provide success rates.

“I would be interested to know that,” said Hester, who is now retired from LifeWay.

But what he does know is that he, Ross and others hear first- and second-hand stories of how the ministry has helped people around the world. Even adults are signing the cards and adopting a lifestyle of purity, Hester said.

“The only way I know it’s been successful is because of the continuing use of it and the testimonies of those saying ‘man, that blessed my life.’”

Rouse was 16 when he signed his commitment card at church in Spring Hill, Fla. It helped him not only with chastity but with the clarity he needed to hear his call into youth ministry.

And now Rouse uses the True Love Waits program with the youth he mentors as pastor to students at Kathleen Baptist Church in Lakeland, Fla. His own success with True Love Waits gives him credibility in pitching to today’s youth, he said.

“It helps me prove you can be pure.”

]]>

Founders, participants say the faith-based abstinence program helps youth who wish to remain "pure" in a sexualized society.

By Jeff Brumley

Ryan Rouse, 33, credits a little piece of paper kept in his Bible for helping him remain a virgin until his wedding day in 2002.

“There were definitely times when temptation would start to factor in – girls and dates,” the Florida Baptist and former multi-sport athlete recalled. “I would keep that Bible in my car – to me that pledge card was a huge symbol.”

That commitment card came courtesy of True Love Waits, the LifeWay Christian Resources abstinence program first unveiled in Nashville in February 1993. It has since been adopted by churches and ministries of numerous denominations across the nation and globe.

“Our hope was to impact a few Southern Baptist churches,” Hester told ABPnews. “It got a whole lot bigger than we ever hoped it would.”

Looking back, Ross said that’s likely because many teens yearned for an alternative to the sexualized culture then addressed mainly by the safe-sex movement.

Condom demonstrations focusing on disease and pregnancy prevention alienated those young people who wanted and needed more support in remaining abstinent, said Ross, now a professor of student ministry and religious education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“That left young people thinking everyone around them must be sexually involved,” he said. “That was tremendously discouraging because they were feeling ‘I’m the strange one. I am the misfit.’”

That was the message Ross said he and Hester were hearing as they worked together on a Christian sex-education curriculum for LifeWay. Discussions about that concern led them eventually to draft a plan for what became True Love Waits, with the first group of 53 pledges being signed at Tulip Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn.

The way people embraced and took ownership of the program showed their hunger to make a promise of purity to Christ, and for a fellowship of like-minded adults and teens to provide the support needed to make it work, Ross said.

“I think teenagers who have identified themselves with a world-wide movement do experience a positive encouragement from peers to keep the promise,” Ross said.

Critics and skeptics have suggested peer pressure accounts for much of the program’s success, and that it alienates young people who do have sex before marriage.

Hester said it’s true that some teens may have signed commitment cards to go along with youth groups. “If you talk to students long enough, you hear that their parents were looking, or ‘I was doing it because my buddy did it,’” Hester said.

But there are many thousands more who say even those pressures were God-sent, or that True Love Waits gave them the social cover they needed to say no when it really mattered, Hester said.

“And yes there are those who don’t live it out,” he said. For those, the program has gone out of its way to teach that slips are opportunities to seek repentance and move on. “We produced ‘When True Love Doesn’t Wait.”

Hester also acknowledged that organizers do not have a count of commitment cards signed or statistics regarding how many teens make it to their wedding day as virgins.

It’s impossible to count because churches and other groups don’t always report when they are using True Love Waits or how many people have signed the cards. There has been no polling or other research to provide success rates.

“I would be interested to know that,” said Hester, who is now retired from LifeWay.

But what he does know is that he, Ross and others hear first- and second-hand stories of how the ministry has helped people around the world. Even adults are signing the cards and adopting a lifestyle of purity, Hester said.

“The only way I know it’s been successful is because of the continuing use of it and the testimonies of those saying ‘man, that blessed my life.’”

Rouse was 16 when he signed his commitment card at church in Spring Hill, Fla. It helped him not only with chastity but with the clarity he needed to hear his call into youth ministry.

And now Rouse uses the True Love Waits program with the youth he mentors as pastor to students at Kathleen Baptist Church in Lakeland, Fla. His own success with True Love Waits gives him credibility in pitching to today’s youth, he said.